At the heart of democracy lies election integrity, but it’s hard to ignore the concerning moves by some states that suggest otherwise. With the 2024 election closing in, there’s a troubling disregard for securing our voter rolls. It’s not just the question of voter fraud hanging in the air—this is about non-citizens, whether legal immigrants or illegal aliens, slipping into voter lists. And that begs the question: are Democrats openly supporting this, or just conveniently looking the other way?
The stakes are sky-high. Just last week, a Biden-appointed judge blocked a Virginia effort to clean up its voter rolls, refusing to remove over 1,600 suspected non-citizens. To many, this looks like a direct hit on measures to safeguard election integrity, leaving states handcuffed when it comes to protecting their own election systems.
Conservative leaders, though, aren’t letting this slide. They’re taking this fight to the Supreme Court to defend the right to keep voter rolls accurate and legal.
From the Daily Wire:
The Republican National Committee and the Virginia GOP have filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the decision by U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles, a Biden appointee, who halted Virginia’s attempt to ensure only eligible voters are on the rolls.
This all began in August, when Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin directed officials to remove non-citizens from the voter lists. But the Biden-Harris administration argued it violated the 1993 National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), claiming it risked removing legitimate voters. Two weeks before the election, Judge Giles sided with them, reinstating the 1,600 individuals. According to the RNC and Virginia GOP, this ruling twists the NVRA’s purpose—meant to keep rolls accurate—into a barrier against election integrity.
RNC Chairman Michael Whatley didn’t mince words, calling the decision an “extraordinary measure to keep non-citizens on voter rolls” and a move that strips states of their right to keep elections secure.
Is the National Voter Registration Act Being Twisted?
In their brief, the RNC is raising a critical question: is the NVRA—a law originally crafted to protect American voters—being weaponized to protect non-citizens instead?
The act was intended to help more Americans register to vote, while upholding the integrity of elections. But by this interpretation, Judge Giles’s ruling could prevent states from keeping voter rolls current and accurate, leaving them open to potential abuse.
If allowed to stand, this ruling could prevent states from blocking non-citizens from landing on their voter rolls. Worse still, if reinstated non-citizens believe they’re eligible, they might unknowingly vote illegally, facing criminal consequences. This impacts everyone—diluting legitimate votes while putting non-citizens at risk.
Supreme Court’s Decision: An Urgent Matter
The timing couldn’t be more urgent. The 2024 election is right around the corner, and without a reversal, conservatives argue we’re on the verge of “irreparable harm” to election integrity.
The RNC and Virginia GOP are pressing the justices for swift action. In their brief, they argue that without clarity from the Court, unlawful voting could go unchecked, jeopardizing the democratic process.
Virginia isn’t alone in its concerns. Other states are echoing the alarm over federal interference in what they see as a state’s right to secure its elections.
This isn’t just a Virginia issue; it’s a test case that could set a precedent affecting voter rolls nationwide.
Bottom Line: What’s on the Line?
At its core, this debate centers on election integrity, and with millions gearing up to vote, public trust in the system is non-negotiable. If states can’t control their own voter rolls, how can we be confident that every ballot counts equally?
Voters deserve to know that their voice won’t be drowned out by ineligible votes. Without serious, enforceable safeguards, that confidence is at risk. Conservative leaders have a straightforward solution: give states the freedom to secure their elections as they see fit.
Meanwhile, the Biden-Harris administration’s stance leans toward broader inclusivity, even at the cost of security—a stance that’s only deepening the divide on this crucial issue.